Albion fans are poised to welcome Adam Lallana to the ranks.

The England international has made the Amex his next port of call.

He will, fairly obviously, take a drop in wages as he swaps Liverpool for the Seagulls. He will be well rewarded but it is understood Albion have not broken their wage structure to sign him.

They have won the race for his services when high-flying Leicester was being talked about as a more likely destination earlier in the year.

In the longer term, there is talk of him gaining some coaching experience with Albion.

The shorter term is about helping bring the potential out of some bright talent and helping Graham Potter’s setup take the enxt step.

The shorter term yet is about excitement among fans buoyed by the recent run.

And a statement to the rest of the league - as well as, perhaps, other would-be recruits.

Here are five things Lallana can do for Albion.

Versatility

Graham Potter likes his players to be able to play different positions – from game to game or even within the same match.

With some, if they didn’t do that before, they can do it now.

It can be a dramatic contrast in roles like Solly March playing left wing-back or right wing.

Steven Alzate putting his sure touch to a variety of uses.

Or more subtle variations, like Neal Maupay leading the attack or dropping in deep.

Lallana fits that bill. He played as a deep-lying midfielder in pre-season with Liverpool but has operated more as a box-to-box No.8 type.

Those who watched him regularly at Liverpool believe he could fit the bill as a No.10 for Albion. That or as a No.8 look the most likely roles.

There are options to go wider. His flexibility will be used.

He will give possibilities and Albion have the versatility, flexibility and intelligence in the personnel around him to make that work.

Wow factor

When Lee Hendrie arrived at Withdean and a League One mid-table club from Aston Villa ten years ago, Gus Poyet milked the situation.

“F…in’ ‘ell, lads, we’ve got Lee Hendrie,” he told players at the first training session.

There was something about Hendrie that looked, felt and smelt of the Premier League. He had a certain aura.

Lallana, in the very loosest terms, might be something similar. Not to the same extent.

Albion do not have Champions League and Premier League winners.

But they have players who have been title winners in their own countries, who are established internationals, who were big stars in their own leagues.

They are not going to be as blown away as those League One boys were.

But they WILL be impressed.

And it will say a lot to those outside the club about what Albion are looking to do.

They have not become heavyweights in term of splashing big fees or wages.

But they HAVE shown they can be attractive to bigger Premier League names who have some strong suitors.

Personality

Graham Potter speaks a lot about getting the right person as well as the right player.

In a lengthy and exclusive interview with The Argus recently, Bruno spoke about how the recruitment process looked at personality as well as talent.

And how key that was to the club coming through lockdown in a strong state.

There are plenty of accounts of how Lallana is the right man as well as the right player.

Potter sees him as a role model.

He would not be coming here if he wasn’t the right character.

Experience

The surprising thing about Lallana’s arrival is that his profile, in terms of age and experience, is totally at odds with the approach Potter has taken for a year now.

The unsurprising thing is… exactly the same.

He is totally different to other additions and maybe that is what is needed.

The Argus asked Potter ten days ago whether he would look to add Premier League experience this summer.

It was a question asked with a reason, of course, as talk of Lallana's possible arrival gathered pace.

Potter said he was, but only if it was the right experience.

Albion have a host of players who are preparing for only their second season in this league.

For some, it will be only a second season in any top flight.

Lallana has been there for eight seasons, as well as playing a high level of international football for his country and club.

That would appear to be the right experience which Potter talks about.

Creativity

Expected goals, expected points and other stats say Albion should be higher than they are in the table.

That they finished seven points clear of the drop zone is more reflective of their efforts than had their buffer been a single point, which was still a possibility going into the final round of fixtures.

But it still feels like they should score more goals, offer more threat.

Create more chances from the promising situations they get into.

Have more killer instinct to turn one-goal leads into two or three, which very rarely happens.

Potter says it is "quite obvious" they need to score more goals from different positions and areas.

Yves Bissouma’s belter at Burnley was a good start.

Lallana is not a goal machine but can help make things happen and he will attract attention.

All that can benefit others.